More about: Phoebe Green

Phoebe Green's debut full-length album arrived today, with its super vulnerable lyrics which we described as being "plucked straight from a journal or therapy session" in our recent review. We decided to pass the mic straight to Phoebe, so they could take us track-by-track through the project.

Take it away...

'Break My Heart'

This intro track really sets the tone for the album I think; it’s basically me stating that no one will ever be able to fuck me up like I can, there’s no point trying to break my heart when I’ve already broken it myself ten times worse. I love that sonically it feels dead light and carefree, but the lyrics are pretty sobering, what’s new!

'Lucky Me'

The title track really sums up the context of the album, the lyrical subject of this song being the pattern of self-destruction that comes from the guilt of not feeling like my unstable mental state is a valid enough reason to feel and behave the way I do when I am privileged in many ways. The spoken vocal represents my internal, self-deprecating internal monologue and the melodic vocal is me searching for validation for the way I feel, trying to understand and justify my emotional instability. 

'Make It Easy'

This song expresses a fear of rejection; not wanting to put myself in a position to be rejected and therefore never initiating anything. I am so reluctant to be vulnerable that I have a tendency to miss out on romantic opportunities as a result. 

'Crying In The Club'

I have actually cried in the club on multiple occasions and I wanted to write a song that would hopefully facilitate this for other people. It’s about self-growth and the frustration that comes with it when it goes unnoticed by others around you as the work has been largely internal. I came to the acceptance that my own healing process isn’t for anyone else anyway, and that the only person that needs to be proud of me is me. 

'Sweat'

Dave Mccracken literally made a beat out of my coughing, which fully brought the song to life. I think this is probably one of the catchiest songs on the album for sure, even though it’s literally about self-sabotaging to the point that I felt absolutely nothing at all.  

'Clean'

‘Clean’ is about being so blinded by infatuation that you never expect this person to ever do anything wrong. I always see myself as the reason a relationship doesn’t work out as it feels easier to comprehend, I always expect the worst from me but never anyone else. This song came from being devastated that somebody who seemed so good and pure could actually hurt me in a way I wasn’t prepared for from another person. 

'Just A Game'

‘Just A Game’ is the most obvious pop song on the album in my opinion, and I have slowly come to terms with the fact that it’s definitely a good thing. I no longer shudder at the word ‘pop’ like my younger, desperate-to-be-alternative self was. I wrote this and ‘Crying In The Club’ with Jessica Winter, who really pushed me to let go of these hang-ups and embrace pop music for what it is, fun as fuck and exciting and emotional. It doesn’t have to be cringey or generic in order to be a commercial banger. 

'One You Want'

The inspiration behind this song was Frank Ocean, I really wanted a literal depiction of having a casual relationship with someone, and the fear of them realising how much baggage I actually have; I think Frank Ocean can capture things so vividly lyrically in a way that almost feels too familiar and close. Musically I wanted to juxtapose this (what’s new), so wrote a dead melodic chorus and got Dave [Mccracken] to create a really cool beat and bass line. 

'Won't Sit Still'

This song is definitely one of my favourites lyrically - I did this demo completely on my own and the final product is hardly different from my original vision. I love the bass line so much in this, but yeah, the lyrics really depict the pattern of only chasing unattainable people for fear of commitment, but feeling extremely isolated and lonely and as a result not forming meaningful connections. It also touches on the weirdness of having a sexual relationship with someone not knowing if you are attracted to, or are envious of, their body. 

'Diediedie'

This song is about C-PTSD and how even when circumstances are absolutely normal and fine, I can never fully relax or feel safe. I experience a lot of physical flashbacks, and therefore a lot of the time wish that I could detach from my body without actually dying. It’s pretty dark, but the single kick drum hopefully tricks you into thinking it is less so, haha. 

'I Wish You Never Saw Me Cry'

This song is about regretting being vulnerable with someone, breaking down in front of the one person you would absolutely rather not express any form of emotion in front of, and then feeling humiliated. Sometimes I wish I never met someone, simply because the emotions that came with the relationship were too overwhelming. 

'Leach'

I wrote this about using social situations as a means to get out of my own head, asking questions I know will have long, flowing answers so that I can distract myself with someone else’s daily dramas for a bit. I love the sound of it too, it’s so hypnotic which really reflects the almost dissociative state I enter in these situations. 

'I Don't Want To Make You Cold'

This was the first song I wrote for the album! I wrote it with Dave on the hottest day of the year after planning to write a really upbeat, sunny song. Obviously, we failed, but it’s a funny little anecdote considering that the song is absolutely miserable. 

Issue Four of the Gigwise Print magazine is on pre-order now! Order here.

More about: Phoebe Green